The week be a week of negotiations, compromises and debate in Sweden after their General Election yesterday. The path to the next government is very murky right now.

With over 99% of the votes counted in Sweden, the Social Democrats have once again taken the most seats with the largest vote share.​In fact, they slightly outperformed their recent polls and gain 28.4% of the vote, where they have been polling around 24-26%. It is still their worst ever performance in a Swedish General election though only slightly down on its 31.1% in 2014.

Overall, the left coalition look set to take 144 seats (Social Democrats 101, Left Party 28 and Greens 15) while the right coalition will get 143 (Moderates 70, Centre Party 31, Christian Democrats 23 and Liberals 19) and the Sweden Democrats will get 62.

It does seem tricky now for Stefan Lofven to remain in power. The process is now that the former Prime Minister has to present a Govt and for him to fall it needs to be voted against by a majority of the Riksdag.Unless there are extensive talks and political fallouts with the right coalition, Stefen Lofven can expect to receive a majority opposing his premiership when the vote is called.

However, the right coalition can also expect to receive a majority against any bid they make for government unless they request the assistance of the Sweden Democrats, something which so far has been anathema to all other parties.

If Ulf Kristersson and the Moderates do decide that power trumps this principled of keeping them out, he can expect a backlash that may cause one or more parties in the right coalition to back Stefan Lofven and the Social Democrats.

I will write a broader and more comprehensive review of the election once the dust has settled and it is clear who the new Prime Minister and government composition will be.​For now, it will be important to analyse the content and tone of all the leaders’ speeches and updates, as we try and analyze the appetite for power and change versus maintaining the status quo…